A shining example

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- The Red Sox' historic path to a World Series championship featured an unprecedented eight consecutive postseason wins. In celebrating that accomplishment, the organization will set another record.

The Sox will issue 500 World Series rings to players, coaches, management, and myriad team employees, obliterating the record for the largest order ever received by Minneapolis-based ring maker Jostens Inc.

"That's so beyond the record it's unbelievable," said Al Nuness, vice president of sports sales for Jostens. "The most we've ever done for a championship ring in the past has been the Patriots when they first won their rings [in 2002]. That was about 225 rings. This is going to be a major celebration for the Red Sox."

The ring will marry tradition and spectacle. The stately "B" logo will be angled exactly as it is on the team's caps and done with rubies. Each ring will include the recipient's name, which is not necessarily standard operating procedure. The rings will be white gold. Principal owner John W. Henry preferred yellow gold but yielded to popular preference within the organization.

"They have been very particular about what they want," Nuness said. "We developed over 15 sample rings, [tinkering with] placement of diamonds, whether or not they want to use rubies. When you look at their `B,' the way it's curved, the way it's actually put together, you want to make sure that looks exactly like that no matter what stones will be used.

"This ring will change the way championship rings will be designed. That's how elegant this ring will be. Most rings in the past, it's gross, so much bling. With this you'll see . . . a ring that would really represent a place like Boston that has been in baseball forever."

Nuness said fittings began yesterday and will continue through Tuesday. The Sox have yet to decide whether to issue the rings April 11, the day of the home opener against the Yankees. If that is the team's decision, Nuness said, the rings will be ready.

"That's our commitment to Boston, to have the rings ready whenever John Henry wants them," he said. "Getting the names spelled right, the sizing done right, that's the hardest part. Production of the ring isn't that difficult once you get the name and size."

When production commences, the company is likely to manufacture two distinct rings.

"Right now you probably will see a ring that is exclusively done for the players and people on the field, the managers," Nuness said. "I think there's an exclusive one done for them because they achieved the goal."

The other ring, Nuness said, is "probably what you'd call an executive/administrative ring. I don't know if you'll call it an `A' or `B' ring, if one will be better than the other. The difference would be the size."

Nuness was unwilling to reveal the cost of the rings.

"I can tell you that I don't even know yet the average appraised value," he said. "The Patriots' ring we did for them, the face value came out at $20,500 without a name going on it. I can imagine the Red Sox ring, because it's the Red Sox, will be appraised pretty high."

Nuness said Henry wanted the players' names on the rings to make each identifiable and peculiar.

"John Henry and his executives are being very particular about protecting the on-field ring vs. the executive ring, because the on-field ring, can you imagine what that would cost on eBay?" Nuness said. "You take [Curt] Schilling's ring. With his name on it. Imagine what that would bring on eBay."

The gold standard for rings was set last year by the Florida Marlins, who produced rings with 242 gemstones valued at $46,000. Nuness said such jewelry really wasn't a ring, but rather "a trophy."